Stolen liquor bottle valued at $3,700

Cognac was taken from Smith River store Thursday

Authorities are looking for a man who may have walked out of a Smith River liquor store Thursday with a bottle of cognac valued at $3,700.

Two young adults, a man and a woman, had purchased alcohol earlier in the day at All Star Liquor, off U.S. Highway 101 in Smith River, said Marisa Larson, manager of the store.

She said they then returned for more booze around 5 p.m.

While the woman was being helped by a store employee and another employee was taking alcohol to the counter for the man, he apparently shoved a bottle of Richard Hennessy — priced at $3,700 — into his pocket and walked out of the store, Larson said.

The bottle of cognac was in an open display on the floor, she said.

The woman then made her purchase and left as well, Larson said.

Employees did not realize the bottle was missing until a short time later as they were walking down aisles taking inventory, Larson said.

The whole theft took about 20 seconds, Larson said after she watched the surveillance video that captured the theft.

The surveillance tape and credit card receipts from the purchases the two made during the day have been forwarded to authorities, Larson said.

Reach Anthony Skeens at
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